Posted on 01/12/2005 10:22:23 AM PST by ejdrapes
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - President Bush on Wednesday began his push to require high school students to take the math and reading tests now required of younger students under the No Child Left Behind law, the most ambitious item on the president's slate of second-term education proposals. "Testing is important," Bush said at J.E.B Stuart High School in this Washington suburb. "Testing at high school levels will help us become more competitive as the years go by. Testing in high schools will make sure that our children are employable for the jobs of the 21st century. ... Testing will make sure the diploma is not merely a sign of endurance, but the mark of a young person ready to succeed." In education, Bush's focus is on high schools and on expanding the No Child Left Behind Act that is designed to raise achievement among poor and minority children and penalize schools that don't make adequate yearly progress. It's part of his campaign pledge to improve high school standards and enhance the value of high school diplomas. "We're not interested in mediocrity," Bush said at the school, which was the lowest-performing among those in relatively prosperous Fairfax County, Va., in 1997, but met its academic goals under No Child Left Behind Act in the 2003-04 school year. "We're interested in excellence so not one single child is left behind in our country," he said. Bush wants to require states to test students annually in reading and math in grades three through 11. That's an expansion of the law he signed in 2002, which requires those tests in grades three through eight, and at least once during grades 10 to 12. The president also wants to give states $250 million to require that the 12th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress be administered in every state in reading and math every two years, just as it is in those subjects in grades four and eight. That would produce the first-ever state results for high school seniors on this national test, helping policy-makers evaluate their school standards. Rep. George Miller of California, ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, has said the idea of adding testing "is going to have rough sledding, not just on Capitol Hill but I think in communities all across the country." Miller says schools are struggling to keep up with the financial burden of their existing federal requirements, let alone new ones. Like Miller, many Democrats, who supported No Child Left Behind when Bush signed it into law three years ago, now criticize the administration for what they call lackluster spending and enforcement. Critics, including teachers' unions, argue that the funding increases have not been enough to cover the costs of the new requirements, including the expense of creating tests and processing results. Federal spending on programs covered under No Child Left Behind has increased 40 percent since Bush took office, from $17.38 billion to $24.35 billion. But spending went up only 1.7 percent this year, about the same rate of increase the entire Education Department received. Focusing on high school is a good idea, Steve Nousen, a federal lobbyist for the National Education Association, a teachers' union, said Tuesday. But he said expanding No Child Left Behind would take even more money. "If you look at the graduation rates nationwide, there is great room for improvement," Nousen said. "We have to do something to prepare these kids for college or to be lifelong learners in the world of work. The funding in the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade is not adequate. If we try to extend it (NCLB) into the high schools, obviously it's going to take more money." Among other proposals Bush has announced for high schools: _$200 million for the "Striving Readers" literacy program. Bush asked Congress for $100 million for this fiscal year and received $25 million for the initiative, which provides grants to schools to give extra help to middle and high school students who have fallen behind in reading. _$45 million to encourage students to take more rigorous high school courses, including expansion of the state scholars program nationally to better prepare more students for college or the workplace. _$500 million for states and school districts to reward teachers whose students show improved achievement.Bush Outlines High School Student Plans
The President gave a speech this morning at a Fairfax County (VA) High School. At least three dozen photographers were present so you may see something on the news aboput this event. Here is a report from a shy FReeper who wishes to remain nameless:
This was a ticket-only event with an audience of about 700, with a lot of students in the audience. The President spoke for 40 minutes and shook a lot of hands afterwards. (Including mine!) Laura came too (wearing peacock blue) and the President mentioned her and her librarian background several times. Both Virginia Senators (Warner and Allen), Congressman Davis, and Attorney General Kilgore were present (all Republicans) as were the current and proposed Secretaries of Education.
The President started by joking that he didn't have any traffic problems getting to this school, which is inside the DC Beltway.
The speech focused on education, concentrating on ensuring high schoolers learn to read. He quoted the Principal of this very diverse high school, "HOPE is spelled R.E.A.D."
A very rough paraphrase of the President's remarks on education:
NCLB says that in exchange for federal education funds, schools need to be accountable for measurable results. NCLB does not allow schools to give up on students simply because they are Black, Hispanic, are not native English speakers, or are from low income families.
The role of the Federal government in education is to provide some funding and as an instigator for accountability.
Specific initiatives:
- $1.5 Billion to help every high school student graduate with basic skills (e.g., read, write, add and subtract).
- Consolidate ideas for high school improvements so states can pick what works best for them.
- Expand NCLB testing to include reading and math at 9th, 10th, and 11th grades.
-Over 100 Districts to get money for reading intervention, using research-based programs that achieve results. The President agreed it sounds odd to say we need to focus on reading in high school, but right now we do.
- Another $120 million for initiatives to improve high school math, using methods proven to succeed.
- 73% more money for training AP and IB teachers.
- Assist low income students to pay for AP and IB exams.
- Encourage taking high level (e.g., AP and IB) courses. As an incentive, add $2,000 in Pell Grants in the first two years of college for state scholars.
- $5,000 incentive awards to 100,000 teachers who achieve success or who work in low income schools.
Any recent updates on plans to have each kid have fedgov administered mental health testing sometime in the future?
bump
Don't think this is going to fly.
doesn't Fairfax County already pick up the tab for AP/IB testing?
Right, Fairfax County pays for ALL AP and IB exams, regardless of income level. Last year almost 21,200 AP exams and almost 2,200 IB exams were taken.
Stuart High School IS very diverse: 21% Asian, 38% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 28% White. The student body of about 1500 students is 45% female and 55%.
Almost half of Stuart students qualify for "free or reduced price meals." As of a couple years ago, about 40% of the students have "Limited English Proficiency."
Pictures up at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319497/posts
High school students already take enough tests. They know which ones are relevant to their future, and which ones aren't. Anything that takes away from SAT and/or ACT prep is basically a waste of time.
It is not a waste of time to test kids who are not going to college. Too many kids graduate and have to take low-payiing jobs or remain unemployed because they lack basic reading and math competency.
Then why does W want to spend $25 million on forcing students to submit to random drug tests, over the objection of parents? Is this his concept of 'accountability?'
-High school students already take enough tests. They know which ones are relevant to their future, and which ones aren't. Anything that takes away from SAT and/or ACT prep is basically a waste of time.-
I'd agree with you except that it also involves school accountability. If they want the money, show some results.
I don't disagree with that fundamental premise. What I disagree with in NCLB is *how* accountability is achieved. Under the current provisions of NCLB, a school is defined as "failing" if an *identifiable sugbroup* within the school fails to improve on the tests. These subgroups are things like ethnic groups, non-English speakers, racial groups, and *this is the kicker* - special ed students.
So if you have a district that's a "magnet" for illegal immigrants, or offers exceptional programs for special ed students (thus encouraging parents to move to that district), you are going to fail no matter what - because non-English speakers *will not* score as well in the first few years, and mentally handicapped students will *never* score as well.
IOW, NCLB attempts to repeal basic biology.
It would be far more reasonable if accountability meant that schools *showed progress* - with the understanding that some groups of students never will progress to the point of being "proficient" as the law demands.
You mention non-college-bound students, and I think that's a significant point. Too many students are turned loose from high school without any marketable skills. But the tests aren't aimed at helping *vocational* students find their place, either, or helping districts develop good vocational programs. NCLB just *penalizes* those schools with more non-college-bound students.
For instance, a student may be a relatively poor reader or bad test taker, but a whiz at taking a car apart & putting it back together, or a fine welder, or an extremely careful and competent carpenter. To NCLB, he's just another example of why that school should be called a "failure." Enough of those kids in a district long enough, and NCLB allows for the state to take that district over & dissolve the school board. This does *nothing* to help the sizeable minority of kids in this country who *will not* become great readers, *will not* score 1300 on their SATs, and will *not* finish 4-year college. NCLB is based on a false premise ("every child can perform at the proficient level") and thus leads to a false system of accountability.
You have all very good points. Fact is, federal gubmint in charge of something entirely local is a losing proposition. *sigh* And it's all because someone wants money.
remaining unaddressed:
1. some parents do not discipline their children nor get involved in their children's education.
2. gangs and their pernicious effects on the atmosphere of learning. some students may not be acceptable to the classrooms and should be removed.
3. educational unions and their negative effects on education.
a. fire non-performing teachers
b. cut administrative staff to the bone
c. do not pay consultants
d. stop the carping about "there's not enough money" when
the united states spends more but gets less results than any
country in the world.
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